The words catch in my throat. This office has been my chrysalis for nine years. I walked in as an intern with a college degree and a head full of dreams. Today I’m walking out as a woman who knows what she wants.
Ready for the mayor’s seat. And when the time—and the man—is right, I’ll be ready for the kind of forever, exclusive love that puts me and my heart first.
DK keeps checking off those “right man” boxes. He knew I was feeling emotional about the farewell and stayed on the phone with me last night, letting me talk, letting me feel it. No fixing. No minimizing. Just real comfort… like he was holding me in his arms. Even in a room full of people, that warmth hasn’t left me.
Seven hours until our weekend begins.
My pulse is on its own countdown, a restless flutter in my neck and wrists that speeds up every time I glance at the clock.
Council members drift in and out, offering handshakes and congratulations. Cecil is noticeably absent—a small, petty man who probably thinks his no-show is a punishment.
Nah, boo. I’ve already left the chat.
At five, when the workday officially ends, I text DK.
Me: Leaving in 20 minutes. I’m soooo excited, I could probably levitate there. See you soon.
“What you grinning at?” Anika asks, popping in at that exact moment and leaning against the doorframe.
“Just looking forward to a chill weekend before I go hard on the campaign trail.” The half-truth tastes like copper.
“So no plans?”
“Actually, I’m going to put this gift card from my team to good use.” I wave the Aqua Hotel voucher like a credibility receipt. “Mini vacation.” That won’t raise questions with anyone who knows me.
“Nice.” She helps me pack the last of my books into a cardboard box. “You deserve the pampering.”
“Thanks.” I tuck the gift card into my purse.
DK made the arrangements all through Neo and came up with the cover. A strategist to the core, the plan is airtight: I park near my favorite hotel. DK tells his people he’s going to Grove Cove with friends. Same weekend away, different locations.
He’s picking me up outside The Aqua at seven-thirty. Then we’ll drive an hour to the lake house.
The gift card adds an extra layer of cover I didn’t expect. It also adds another layer of guilt.
Anika isn’t just my campaign manager, she’s my close friend. She has staked her reputation on my name. If she knew I was literally getting into bed with the opposition, she’d lose her whole damn mind. Still, I don’t like keeping the truth from her.
Lying to my dad, though? That’s the prickly pill. We don’t keep secrets. I know he wouldn’t judge me; he never does. Even though he knew Hollis was a disaster from the start, he just offered his love and support in the brutal aftermath of our breakup.
I’m waiting to tell him about DK. This weekend is a litmus test of sorts—to see if what we have is as real as it feels. I want to make sure I’m not just getting the version of DK he wants me to see, but who he really is. That was my mistake with other men. I accepted what they were selling without ever looking too closely beneath the hood.
I make one final round, hugging my team and soaking in the bittersweet weight of goodbye. Then I load up my two boxes—and my stubborn jade plant that survived every phase of me—into the trunk and head home.
Lot: Happy D weekend!
I smile, grateful to have my cuz to share this secret with.
Me: I can’t wait. Getting ready to go.
Lot: Drive safe. Have fun. And eat that man up.
Me: You know I will.
After showering off the day, I swap my blazer for a short sundress and sexy undies. Grab my pre-packed duffle, andhit the road to Chicago with showtunes blaring through the speakers, belting out the lyrics as the miles fly by.
DK texts when he’s five minutes out. I pull into the public lot beside the hotel—where this thing ignited between us nearly a month ago—and slide on my wide-brimmed hat and Jackie O shades. It’s a flimsy disguise, but it helps me to feel less exposed.
At seven-thirty on the dot, his sleek black Audi rolls up. My pulse zings as the tinted window glides down, revealing a smile that spreads across his face, crinkling the corners of his dark eyes behind his glasses.
